(no subject)

[skygiants]

It took me ages to read The Last Hero, which was next up in my Discworld read, because it's super short but also SUPER HEAVY. When your alternate reading makes Les Miserables look light, this is sort of a problem!

I mean, the heaviness is justified by the art. The art is lovely! I am not complaining about all the art. It just makes it more of a challenge, that's all.

Anyway, The Last Hero is the only Discworld book (other than Snuff, which is to be my triumphant reward at the conclusion of this reread) that I had not previously read! You would think this would mean I have a ton to say about it, but I don't really. Possibly because it is basically a sequel to Interesting Times and I feel like I got MORE THAN enough Cohen-and-Rincewind in Interesting Times.

I mean, the premise of Rincewind, Carrot, the Librarian, and Leonard of Quirm trapped in a spaceship does sound potentially hilarious! But execution did not, alas, fully live up to the concept. Maybe if there had been more time to sit around playing cards, less time panicking.

. . . but the art was very nice!

-- also the Patrician gets to prove the benefits of a liberal arts education, I deeply enjoyed that.

Comments

[kate_nepveu]

I love the little jokes in the art, which makes me more well-disposed toward this book than it probably deserves.

(Hilariously, it is also an audiobook, even though, for instance, the last scene literally makes no sense without the accompanying art!)

I have finally finished _Lords and Ladies_, btw, and skipped to the audiobook of _Snuff_ because I am on a panel this coming weekend about Discworld. If I can get this . . . _dratted_ . . . brief down in a reasonable manner beforehand I will toss up quick comments about my re-read backlog.

[skygiants]

. . . I'm so confused about the concept of The Last Hero as an audiobook! But -- HOW.

And hee, congrats on making it through Lords and Ladies! Have you read Snuff already, or is this going to be the first time for you?

[kate_nepveu]

First time! I was hoping to save it for its proper place, but alas, duty intervened. (Though it might turn out better, because I am not enjoying it and this way I don't end on it . . . ?)

[skygiants]

Oh, too bad! :( But yes, it seems fortuitous in that case.

(I am kind of pleased that it's worked out for me so my next one, as soon as I finish my Les Mis read, will be Night Watch. Perfect timing!)

[kate_nepveu]

Indeed, could not be better!

[shati]

It wasn't until I got to the end of this post that I realized you meant physically heavy. "It's definitely not the funniest Discworld book, but I'd still call it lighter reading than Les Mis," I thought, perplexed.

[petra]

I'm right there with you.

[skygiants]

HAHAHA OOPS.

. . . I mean though I have probably laughed out loud more while reading Les Mis than I did while reading The Last Hero, but this may also be a function of FIFTEEN HUNDRED PAGES.

[innerbrat]

I think if you think The Last Hero is light reading, you obviously don't get it.

Also I am much smarter than you.

[shati]

If anyone ever asks you to prove that, just tell them I signed up for Festivids.

[innerbrat]

I love you, but it's true.

[batyatoon]

I love The Last Hero with a completely helpless passion, even though I acknowledge that objectively speaking it is far from the best of his books.

But.

But LEONARD OF QUIRM STANDING ON THE MOON LOOKING DOWN AT THE DISC I CAN'T EVEN.

[skygiants]

I don't think I have enough feelings about space for The Last Hero. :( This is a terrible thing to confess. I like space! I do! I like the possibility of it and the idea of limitless worlds and all the rest of it! But I also still have traumatic memories of being dragged to see Apollo 13 . . .